Ovarian cancer is a rare but lethal disease. The chance of survival for people with ovarian cancer is not high – only 25% to 33% will live five years after diagnosis. It affects 50,000 to 70,000 women every year in the United States. It typically develops in the ovaries and generally does not metastasize.
There are treatment options for ovarian cancer patients: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy etc. The likelihood of surviving ovarian cancer varies greatly depending on the type of treatment that is used.
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Types of Treatment for Ovarian Cancers
cancer can be a challenging disease one can deal with but with the right treatment it can be cured. Here are treatment to follow:
1. Surgery
These is one of the most common types of cancer in women. This disease affects the ovaries and is most commonly found in post-menopausal women. The CA125 blood test can detect ovarian cancer early on and surgery is an option for those who experience symptoms such as persistent bloating, chronic pelvic pain, or abnormal vaginal discharge.
2. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses cytotoxins to kill cancer cells. The drugs are given in pill form or through injections into the bloodstream. Chemotherapy can be effective in reducing cancer cell growth and shrinking tumors, however, it has limited effects on early-stage cancers. While chemotherapy does not cure ovarian cancer, it can help reduce tumor size and increase survival rates for some women.
3. Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can cure or prolong treatment for ovarian cancer. It is a powerful tool that uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells all over the body. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill all diseased tissue near organs outside your pelvis using high-energy x-rays or gamma rays, while effectively treating the disease.
4. Hormonal Therapy
The hormone therapy process starts with a blood test to see if the patient is a candidate for hormone replacement therapy. In the case of ovarian cancer, this test can help determine how much of a role hormones play in the disease. The patient’s family history and other factors are also taken into account when making a decision about treatment.
The goal of such therapy is to help stop or control any hormone production from your tumor so that it cannot grow back anymore.
5. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment where doctors use biomarkers such as proteins and hormones to find and target the cancer cells. The main objective is to destroy the cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Conclusion: When Should You Start Worrying About Ovarian Cancer?
Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of death in women in the United States. It can be difficult to detect because it often has no symptoms until it is too late.
It’s hard to know when you should start worrying about ovarian cancer. However, there are a few signs that may help you spot it before it becomes a serious problem:
– Irregular menstrual cycle
– Problems with fertility
– Changes in urination or bowel habits
– Pain during sex
